Middle East Experience

The Biden administration on Thursday announced the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats and sanctions against nearly three dozen people and companies as it moved to hold the Kremlin accountable for interference in last year’s presidential election and the hacking of federal agencies.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The actions, foreshadowed for weeks by the administration, represent the first retaliatory measures announced against the Kremlin for the hack, familiarly known as the SolarWinds breach. In that intrusion, Russian hackers are believed to have infected widely used software with malicious code, enabling them to access the networks of at least nine agencies in what US officials believe was an intelligence-gathering operation aimed at mining government secrets.Besides that hack, US officials last month alleged that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized influence operations to help Donald Trump in his unsuccessful bid for reelection as president, though there’s no evidence Russia or anyone else changed votes or manipulated the outcome.The measures announced Thursday include sanctions on six Russian companies that support the country’s cyber activities, in addition to sanctions on 32 individuals and entities accused of attempting to interfere in last year’s presidential election, including by spreading disinformation.The 10 diplomats being expelled include representatives of Russian intelligence services, the White House said.The White House also said Biden was using diplomatic, military and intelligence channels to respond to reports that Russia encouraged the Taliban to attack US and allied troops in Afghanistan based on the “best assessments” of the intelligence community.Reports of alleged “bounties” surfaced last year, with the Trump administration coming under fire for not raising the issue directly with Russia. The White House did not publicly confirm the reports. “The safety and well-being of US military personnel, and that of our allies and partners, is an absolute priority of the US,” the White House said Thursday.It was not immediately clear what, if any, other actions might be planned against Russia. Officials had previously said they expected to take actions both seen and unseen.The sanctions, presumably intended to send a clear retributive message to Russia and to deter similar acts in the future, are certain to exacerbate an already tense relationship between the US and Russia.President Joe Biden told Putin this week in their second call to “de-escalate tensions” following a Russian military buildup on Ukraine’s border, and said the US would “act firmly in defense of its national interests” regarding Russian intrusions and election interference.In a television interview last month, Biden replied “I do” when asked if he thought Putin was a “killer.” He said the days of the US “rolling over” to Putin were done. Putin later recalled his ambassador to the US and pointed at the US history of slavery and slaughtering Native Americans and the atomic bombing of Japan in World War II.It remained unclear whether the US actions would actually result in changed behavior, especially since past measures by the US have failed to bring an end to Russian hacking. The Obama administration expelled diplomats from the US in 2016 in response to interference in that year’s presidential election. And though Trump was often reluctant to criticize Putin, his administration also expelled diplomats in 2018 for Russia’s alleged poisoning of an ex-intelligence officer in Britain.US officials are still grappling with the aftereffects of the SolarWinds intrusion, which affected agencies including the Treasury, Justice, Energy and Homeland Security departments, and are still assessing what information may have been stolen. The breach exposed vulnerabilities in the supply chain as well as weaknesses in the federal government’s own cyber defenses.The actions would represent the second major round of sanctions imposed by the Biden administration against Russia. Last month, the US sanctioned seven mid-level and senior Russian officials, along with more than a dozen government entities, over a nearly fatal nerve-agent attack on opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his subsequent jailing.Read more:US set to slap new sanctions on Russia as soon as Thursday, April 15: SourcesNew US sanctions against Russia won’t ‘help’ Putin-Biden summit plans: Kremlin
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US President Biden announces sanctions on Russia, expels 10 diplomats for hacking

Saudi Arabia records 985 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, the health ministry announces, as infections continue to rise.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Of the new cases, 463 were detected in the capital Riyadh, 164 in Mecca 140 in the eastern region.An additional 661 people also recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 386,102 out of the 402,142 total infections recorded as of April 15.Meanwhile, the death toll reached 6,791 after 10 people died due to COVID-19 complications, according to the ministry.The Kingdom had seen daily infections fall to below 100 in January from a peak of more than 4,000 in June.Saudi Arabia in January postponed the end of a ban on travel for its citizens and full reopening of entry points to May 17. In February, it suspended entry for non-citizens from 20 states except for diplomats and medical practitioners.With ReutersRead more:Experts suggest opening windows, ventilating spaces to curb COVID-19 spreadUAE reports 1,928 COVID-19 cases in 24 hoursUK online job ads, restaurant bookings rebound as COVID-19 lockdown eases
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia daily COVID-19 cases near 1,000 as infections increase

Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Thursday demanded Israel halt all exploration in an offshore gas field on its southern border, as part of an ongoing dispute over their shared sea frontier.The countries, which are still technically at war, last year took part in indirect US-brokered talks to discuss demarcation to clear the way for offshore oil and gas exploration.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.But those talks stalled after Lebanon demanded a larger area, including part of the Karish gas field, where Israel has given a Greek firm rights for exploration.“Lebanon is within its rights to evolve its position according to its interest and as suitable under international law,” Aoun told visiting United States envoy David Hale.Aoun “demanded international experts... draw the line according to international law”, the presidency said in a statement.He also called for a “commitment to not carrying out any oil or gas activities and not starting any exploration in the Karish field and its adjacent waters” until the matter was settled.The talks last year were supposed to discuss a Lebanese demand for 860 square kilometers (330 square miles) of territory in the disputed maritime area, according to a map sent to the United Nations in 2011.But Lebanon then said the map was based on erroneous calculations and demanded 1,430 square kilometers (552 square miles) more territory further south, including part of Karish.Lebanon’s outgoing public works minister this week signed a decree to make official Lebanon’s demand for the larger area.Aoun, the caretaker prime minister, and the outgoing defense minister still have to sign it before Lebanon sends it to the UN to make its new demand official.For his part, Hale on Thursday said the US was ready to continue brokering Israel-Lebanon talks “on the basis on which we initiated these discussions,” appearing to reject the Lebanese move towards demanding a larger area.Read more:Lebanon expands claim over disputed maritime area with Israel, says MinisterLebanon’s president says draft maritime decree needs government approval‘Israeli enemy ship’ responsible for oil leak in Eastern Mediterranean: Lebanon’s PM
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Lebanon’s Aoun demands Israel halt offshore gas exploration in disputed border area

US President Joe Biden informed his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, ahead of time, that Washington would take action to respond to Moscow’s election interference, a senior administration official said Thursday.“Earlier this week, the President spoke with President Putin again and told him, true to his word, that the United States would, in fact, be executing responses to the cyber intrusion of SolarWinds and the interference in the 2020 election,” the senior US official said.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The SolarWinds hack, carried out by Russian government-backed sides, breached more than 100 American companies and another nine government agencies.“This week, and today, that is what we are doing. We are taking additional actions to respond to what the Russian government and its intelligence services have done to directly target American sovereignty. There will be elements of our process to these actions that will remain unseen,” the official said during a call with reporters.His comments came shortly after the US announced wide-ranging sanctions on Russian entities and companies, including expelling ten diplomats based in the US.Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday’s actions were intended to hold Russia to account “for its reckless actions.”But Blinken said the US was looking for ways to cooperate with Russia to build a more stable and predictable bilateral relationship.The US official echoed Blinken’s comments and said the sanctions were a “proportionate and tailored” response.During this week’s call between Biden and Putin, the US president invited his Russian counterpart to a summit to discuss a broad range of issues. The official said Putin had not yet accepted the offer to meet Biden in a third European country.“But we believe that in the coming months, it will be vital for the two leaders to sit down to discuss the full range of issues facing our relationship,” the official said. “Leaders of significant countries like Russia and the United States have to sit together to find a stable and effective way forward to stop any kind of spinning out of control.”On Afghanistan and reports that Russia offered money to terrorists in exchange for targeting American soldiers, the official said there was “low to moderate” confidence Moscow sought to encourage Taliban attacks against US troops in Afghanistan in 2019.The conclusion was based on information and evidence of connections “between criminal agents in Afghanistan and elements of the Russian government.“This information puts a burden on the Russian Government to explain its actions and take steps to address this disturbing pattern of behavior,” the official said.Read more: US sanctions Russian officials over Navalny poisoning as Biden toughens stance
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Biden informed Russia’s Putin of US sanctions ahead of time: Senior official

The US is prepared to broker maritime talks between Lebanon and Israel as the two countries clash over maritime activities..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: US prepared to broker peace talks between Lebanon and Israel over maritime dispute

Wray said some US far-right extremists had traveled to Europe to meet and possibly train with activists.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: FBI director says US far-right extremists traveled to network in Europe

Moroccan journalists have called on authorities to release Suleiman Raissouni and Omar Al-Radi, who have been held for several month on pre-trail detention..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Moroccan media workers call for release of hunger striking journalists held in pre-trial detention

Iran needs to revamp its security, says the secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council who reports directly to the supreme leader.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Iranian official admits Israel swiped nuclear archive

Another round of Vienna talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear accord is considered to be positive despite an apparent Israeli attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iran Talks Resume, Gingerly, After Attack on Nuclear Site

Participants from 25 countries and dozens of communities will participate in the program, which will feature panoramic views of Israel’s natural beauty and a special performance.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Join the celebration! Watch the March of the Living salute to Israel